25th April 2010

Haven't blog for a week. Had to wake up at 5-nish every day to make it down for morning prayers at JW by 6.45pm (overslept 2 days but still make it for PM though a lil bit late). This week we had Pst Kong teaching us the Book of Romans! It has been a really awesome yet tirng week. Been so blessed by the morning prayers & classes conducted by Pst Kong. :)) Love Pst Kong & Sun, CHC the church I call home and all the other pastors and leaders in CHC!!! And of course God, His Word & His Presence. Now as I take time to read, digest & meditate on the Word and I start see things in a really different light. New revelation. PTL! I've to admit that at times I just rushed through my bible reading. Think all of us are guilty of that. But I don't want that to happen again. Reading the Word should not be a chore but a delight.

We had early release from class on friday. At abt 11am. That's 2hrs ahead of the time we usually end class. Though class ended early on fri, we stayed back to practise P&W for the upcoming mock cg on nxt thurs & fri. Jia youz all who are involved! We can do it! Those not involved get to have a long weekend this week. Whatever! Left JW at abt 1pm on fri. Every1 was feeling shacked already after 5 days of early morning prayer & classes. I esp respect those who stay so far (east/north) & have to wake up super early ( 4.30am) to take the 1st bus 1st train 1st everything to get to JW on time for the prayer meeting. *Salute*

As mentioned in my previous entry, 1 of my staff will be leaving end of this mth to try working in her uncle's company. Whether she like it that or not she also don't know. If she don't like, she wants to come back. If we still have vacancy then she can. Another staff has also have left us....on impulse. He's the staff to whom we've gave chances after chances (we hire him in 2008 & he left on impulse after abt 3mths. He requested to come back in 2009 & left on impulse again after yet another abt 3 mths. Jan 2010 he requested to come back again & again left on impulse). We have given him enough chances already. This time round there's no more chances of him coming back to San Street to work ever again. He's been taking the grace we gave him for granted again & again. He can try doing what he has been doing when he's working with us in other companies & see if other bosses will accept it or not. Attitude! As a matter of fact, we're not surprised that he'll leave on impulse as all of us know him and his attitude too well already (that includes my neighbour in Far East & my other staffs). Asked a previous staff who's not working & looking for job if she's interested to come back San Street to work. She'll be starting work on Monday. Wednesday we'll have a part timer coming in for training & he'll be working for us on every wednesdays & thursdays. We also have our relatives helping out part time on weekends. That's 1 full timer & 2 part timers replacing our 2 full timers who left/is leaving soon. God is good. He's indeed our Jehovah Jireh - Our Provider. I really remember what else I did after class other than stocks done in the afternoon & readings for assignments done at night after classes for the last few days. Yesterday was working on stocks until evening then rest of the rest of the day. These few days haven't been able to contact any of our suppliers. Not picking up calls. Not replying smses. What is happening?

Today woke up early and got to expo by 7.30am to serve in attributes which was followed by service. Enjoyed service with Pst Kim Sunghae. After service had prayer meeting but I didn't go coz was helping out in Attributes till 2.30pm to pack up for the shift back to Hall 8 (promised mum I'll be back early). Came back home then immediately headed out with parents. Drop by bugis outlet to change money for them and then headed to Singtel in Orchard to change my business mobile plan to personal mobile plan (dad's been complaining that my mobile bill is so high). Having changed my mobile plan to personal, it means that I'll have to pay my own handphone bill from now on. Anyways, it's about time that I do so already. After which, we lingered around centrepoint where dad bought some shirts using the Robinson vouchers he had. We then had dinner at 313 before returning home. Didn't do any reading for the assignments today. Feeling tired now. Think I should go Zzzzzzzz.......Nites!

Just got back not too long ago. Feeling quite tired actually. Dropped by Far East to settle some things there. Woke up at 6am. Reached Expo 5mins to 7.30am to serve. Attributes as compared to last time have quite a number of changes but all are definitely good changes. From glory to glory. :) Tomorrow will be the 1st day of the week of prayer. Going to go for all 5 days of morning prayer in JW...hopefully I can wake up.

1 of my staff is quitting end of this mth as her uncle is short of manpower & wants her to go over to help out. She asked us the other day if she doesn't like it there can she come back to work for us again. We gave her 1 month to try out there and if she does not like it there she can come back. Not all staffs who have left San Street gets to come back. Only those who left us a good lasting impression will get to come back. Since day 1 of San Street, many have worked with us (be it PT or FT) but so far only 5 managed to leave us a good impression. Current & previous staffs who are reading this might be thinking "Am I 1 of those 5?" Haha. Don't tell you. :P

Anyways, with 1 staff leaving end of the mth it means that we'll need find a PT staff to work on the days the other staffs are off otherwise I'll have to work in the shop & work my assignmets in the shop. When my friend (also in clothing retail business) heard that I'm looking for a PT staff, he actually offered to "share" his PT staff whom he just recruited. I was surprised by his offer. Today everything has been confirmed. His PT staff will be working for him on mondays & tuesdays and for me on wednesdays & thursdays. Hehe. 1 stone kill 3 birds (I've a PT staff, my friend has a PT staff & the PT staff gets to earn extra $$$ by working in 2 different shops and still gets to rest 3 days a week). Not bad eh? Also 1 of my relative (my aunt's nephew who's fr indonesia) who has come over sg to study in poly will be helping out in the shop during the weekends.

For SOT, 10 book reviews + 10 sermons + mock CG round 2 coming up (mock CG round 1 is over but I wasn't involved in it. Mine will be on 29th & 30th April). So far have gotten 3 books. Have started a bit of the readings for 1 of the book. Only managed to read 2++ chapters of my 1st book. Total of 12 chapters in that book. Though it's not many chapters but that book is quite chim. The 2nd book I'm planning to work on after this book is the 52 chapters book. Planning get the book reviews for the more chim/thicker books over and done with b4 working on the simpler ones. Come to think of it, the readings that I had to do when I was doing my Masters in Australia 3-4yrs ago were much more and much thicker than all of these books and we didn't even go through them during lectures/tutorials but they were all examinable. I still remember having to read (well more like skim) through all those readings b4 exams and amazingly I did quite well (most of my results were just 1 grade lower than distinction. not bad. hehe). If I can do it back then, I believe I can also do it now. But really got to be more focus. Sometimes I get distracted.

The week of the shift

It's the week of the shift. It's been a very tiring week. Though only 3 days has passed. Whole body aching esp my neck, lower back & hips. Took leave from classes on monday to pack up suntec with mum and the staff allocated there. Was busy packing the whole day. Had to miss the chapel session with John Bevere. Heard it was good. :( Went back to class on tuesday. It's great to be back. Today & tmr are the days of our mock cgs. I'm not involved for these 2 days...mine is at the end of the month. So didn't need to go. Going to spend these 2 days to work on the stocks. Thankfully my mock cgs not this week otherwise I really dunno how I'm going to cope preparing for the mock cgs in the mist of all the things that needs to be done after the shift.

Anyways, all the stocks in suntec are now back home. All thanks to our renovation contractor who help out with the shift as he has access to a lorry/pick up & we don't. We've also handed everything else that needs to be done to our renovation contractor to do that is the final shift of all the furnishings etc to other outlet or to my dad's company for storage and the reinstatement of the unit back to its original state before we officially handover the unit back to suntec. Have to find space at home to keep the stocks. A lot of old stocks sia. Dad doesn't want to rent an "event area" to sell off all the old stocks. Then how? Let them sit there and collect dust meh? They won't grow $$$ lei. Got to think of ways to clear them. Also got to replenish whatever stocks that is running out in far east & iluma with those that has been brought back from suntec. My house more & more like a warehouse now. It's quite discouraging seeing suntec closed after having been there for the past 3 yrs. That's where I started San Street. A part of me felt like a failure but I know I'm not. It just so happens that we walk into & planted ourselves in an unfruitful ground called Suntec MPG (previously known as Suntec My.PlayGround).

Sometimes I feel that what my parents said is right....that I'm not cut out to be a business person/business owner and etc. Other than the business in suntec, another reason they said this is b'coz sales in iluma isn't good lately (thought it has picked up already). My parents wants to close the outlet in iluma too after the contract there ends end of march next year leaving just far east. All these things being said abt me are really very discouraging that at times I feel like giving up. But I know I am not a failure...I am not what other people say I am...I am what God says I am! He has a future & a hope for me. I am the head & not the tail, above & not beneath. Praying & believing for a breakthrough in the sales for both far east & iluma and for the resurrection power of Jesus Christ to be upon the business (in actual fact we haven't been making money. nv really told any1 abt this. that's the reason my parents has been so stressed abt this. I know where they're coming from & I don't blame them for what is being said abt me). Whatever it is, just keep walking and prophesy to the dry bones. With God nothing is impossible.

SOT assignments are out already but still haven't gotten my books yet except for "how to prepare bible messages" book. Should start reading it soon. The rest will only be ready for collection on 16th/23th/30th. I was hoping the books will arrive much earlier so I can start working on them. I really should start chiong-ing for the assignments once I've gotten some of the book on the 16th. Initially was told that we can clock 6hrs of ministry on ALTERNATE week instead of clocking 3hrs of ministry EVERY week. However realise that this is not possible as the most we'll be serving in bookstore is 4hrs each time (NOT 6hrs). So looks like I'll have to serve on every sundays to clock the hours. Have got to report at 7.30AM. So early. Actually it's not abt clocking the hrs. I actually kinda miss serving in bookstore after leaving the ministry abt 2yrs ago. And it's fun to be back serving with the old faces and the new faces in bookstore. Nxt week is the prayer week. Most prob I'll be going to JW for all the 7-8am morning prayer. It's really a discipline to wake up early every day be it for class/ministry.

7th April 2010 (updated)

It's exactly 1 week to the end of suntec's contract. Have applied for leave on the 12th (nxt mon) so as to pack up & shift out of there asap. This weekend will be our last weekend there. Having mixed feelings abt the shift. On one hand, I'm happy we can FINALLY get out of suntec. On the other hand, I'm kinda sad abt leaving suntec as that's where San Street was "born". However, having been in suntec for the past 3yrs & having shifted a few times within suntec itself, suntec lvl 3 is still the same...can be declared as an unfruitful place, it's time to let go and leave that place. Must really learn to let go & let God. I'm sure there's a better location elsewhere. Clementi maybe (I'm talking abt the mall that's still under renovation). For now shall concentrate on Far East Plaza & Iluma. After we shift out of suntec, I believe the burden will be much lighter. Suntec has pulled the business down for the past 3yrs. Time to move on.

1 staff said she has got dental appt for x-ray on this fri & requested to change nxt week's off day to this fri instead (if change appt date will have to wait another 1-2mths). Looks like I've to take 1/2 day leave from SOT to work in the shop this fri (SOT in the morning & then leaving during the 1st break to head down to iluma to work until 10pm. Going to be a long long day). Ever since our china staff was transferred over to Far East Plaza, the sales there have improved. She's the most eloquent salesperson we've (that is if the customers are chinese speaking. she can also handle non-chinese speaking customers but not as well as chinese-speaking ones). As for our other 2 staffs, they're doing okay...can say that they're hardworking in some ways...but their sales still got room for improvement. Including our china staff and myself. After all no one's perfect. Right after we shift out of suntec, will have to re-shuffle staffs allocation once again. Have made plans. There'll only be minor changes. Praying that the conflicts among a couple of staffs will be resolved and that everyone of them will willing to work with one another.

SOT have been great so far. Kinda siong though. My whole body is aching from the rushing here & there. Have been having migraine for the past few days. Not enough rest I guess. But still thank God for His Grace & Strength. We're currently on Home Cell Grp Leadership. Mock CG coming up soon. Mine is at the end of this mth and I'll be collecting the offering, leading testimony time, and leading praise. We've also a total of 10 book review assignments to do & 10 sermons to write. So far only 4 book review assignments are already uploaded on the student portal. I've yet to start on any of them as I still dun've the books I ordered fr Attributes. Hopefully can get them soon so that I can start on the assignments asap. Praying for wise time management to juggle between SOT and managing the business.

Have decided to restart the writing of my spiritual journal. To journalise the conversation between God and I during my QT, Have done that a couple of times in SOT class (1st time we wrote what we felt the HS is speaking to us. 2nd time we wrote what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us, our response, and His reply). Decided to do the same thing in my own QT. Shall jot down whatever God is speaking to me. Been a long time since I last did that. Believe by doing this I will be able to grow more in my walk with Him. Praying for more encounters with God. :))

Easter weekend

Went to 3 services this week. Served in Attributes b4 service on sat. Was supposed to serve after service as well but my parents wanted me to come back and go out for dinner with them, sis & niall, and our new in-laws. Sis & Niall just got back from their honeymoon in japan & our new in-laws just got back from their holiday trip to penang. They're all leaving tmr for UK. All services this week have been a blast! So proud of all my friends who're part of the casts esp "Andrew Lim" aka Bernard Loh. The drama team did it once again! :))

The drama depicts a story of a couple (Andrew & Maggie), modern day Jesus & modern day lucifer. Esp felt impacted on how Jesus loves us so much that He chose the cross despite having the choice to destroy & recreate mankind. Not only that it's so so impt to have a strong will to guard & protect our heart & mind fr the temptations of the devil. Being in the marketplace for the past 3 yrs, I've indeed faced many temptations but thank God for His Grace & the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And we can always say that our best friend is Jesus Christ. Ra Ra Ra Ah Ah. Roma Roma ma. Ga Ga Oh La La. He is our Saviour :)) Living to be led by the Holy Spirit each & everyday.

Mum's going back to M'sia for a week. Leaving tmr. Bcoz her house got burned. :(( Thank God it wasn't that big a fire & was realised early by the maid who was awoken in the middle of the night by the smell of something burning. Apparently the electric mosquito racket was overcharged, caught fire & dropped on to the sofa which also caught fire. The entire house was smoky. They could have died in the smoke while sleeping. After the fire was realised, the 1st thing they did was got my grandma out of the house. Must be a shock for her! Everyone got out of the house safely & the fire engine came. Now everything's fine. The hall just need to be fixed up and the insurance can be claimed. When my cousin who also was in the house told her friends abt it. They thought was an april fool. : Come on lo...who would joke abt this kinda thing.

That's it for now. Super tired sia. Starting to feel the siong-ness of SOT & managing the business. And it's only the beginning. But I'm loving it. His grace is sufficient for me. Still got the remaining new shoe stocks to be delivered to far east. Delivered 1/2 of the batch to far east yesterday. However couldn't fit all the shoe stocks in the car in 1 single trip so have to make another trip to far east to deliver them. Also had the shoe stocks delivered to bugis iluma on gd fri. Got other things to do too for work like catching up with my accounts.

1st April 2010 (updated)

A quarter of 2010 is gone just like that...scarily fast. Class ended earlier today coz children church needed B4 audi. This weekend will be going for 1 service every day. Can't seem to get through my friends whom I'm trying to reach out to. Handphone not on and not replying my smses. :(( Send a no. of invitations via facebook to some sec sch friends & other friends. Most of them in my fb I've lost touch for a long time & dun've their contact number. Only quite recently found them on fb. Praying that some of them will join us for service. I'm going back to attributes bookstore to serve this saturday. Miss serving in attributes. Have been wanting to go back to serve when the business is more settled (left the ministry abt abt 2yrs ago when problems keep arising in the shop almost every other day & parents keep complaining I spend too much time in church). Attributes bookstore will also be the ministry I'll be in throughout SOT.

Have recovered. PTL! SOT has been rather stretching physically & mentally. But spiritually after each day of classes I feel so refreshed. New encounters in class every single day and I'm loving it. :)) SOT rocks & team 25 rocks! :)) Didn't get pass the choir support team audition. However, the others in team who signed for the choir support team are ALL in. Total 7 of them were up on the stage serving in choir today. :)) It just shows that I'm not called to sing. Ha. Nvm. God will use me in other ways. 1 in our team got into BV support team. :)) 2 in our team got into the musician support team to play the guitar. That's a total of 10! COOL man! 10 out of 24 of us (there's almost 1/2 the team) are in choir/BV/ musio. :)) :)) :)) So proud to be part of team 25! I miss 5 lessons of GOTP in just that 2 days of MC last week. After we've completed that book, I'm going to borrow the book fr any1 in the team to copy notes. Hehe. Left 3 & a 1/2 lesson of GOTP then we'll move on to home cell group leadership. Our 1st assignment, bible reading chart and 1st 4 mock cg are all out.

For years whenever family friends or relatives ask me which church I'm attending, when I said City Harvest they're surprised. Why? The main reason is b'coz just right next door to my house is a church and they wonder why I would go to a church in the far far east/far far west when all I need to do is hop next door on a sunday (not only that pasir panjang road where I'm staying at have at least 6-7 churches) and it'll save me a lot of time. True! But the reason I'm attending CHC and not other churches is because of all friendships I've found there esp with those whom I've grown up together with in church though we're no longer in the same cell/zone. But to be able to see one another grow in our walk with God is very encouraging and inspiring. And of course not forgetting the seeds my previous & current cgls have sown in the my life. In short, I just love CHC. :)) As a matter of fact, having stayed in this house for almost 15yrs, I haven't even step into the church next door. But I often can hear their service going on that is when it's good friday, easter and christmas (coz they set up a temporary tent outside the church building but within their compound to have their service there).

Workwise. Staffs have been v. guai and have not been giving us any problems. That's a good thing. Just that they're still not fruitful enough (in regards to the sales they bring in. can be better). After the transfer of a staff to my dad's office & the transferring of staffs around outlets, now we close our suntec outlet 3 days a week. We only open the outlet there on mon, fri, sat and sun (that means tue, wed, thurs we're closed) as we feel that it's not necessary to waste money to pay for electricity and staff when the sales there is so horrible. So might as well close on the quieter days. Anyways. it's just a couple more weeks b4 the contract there ends (14th April to be exact). We'll be packing up suntec on 12th April, a couple of days earlier, as we've got to clear the unit so as to reinstate it back to its original state & the keys are to be returned on 14th itself. May take a full day. Even had to apply for leave from SOT for that day coz the staff won't be able to pack everything by himself in 1 day. In order to to pack everything up asap, mum and I will go down to help the staff there to pack. After suntec closes, it will much lighter burden on us. Counting down...